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Egyptian football riot anger focuses on military rulers Egyptian football riot anger focuses on military rulers
(40 minutes later)
Angry Egyptians ranging from football fans to MPs blamed the military rulers for the bloody post-match riot on Wednesday night that left scores of people dead. Egyptians ranging from football fans to MPs have blamed the military rulers for the bloody post-match riot that left scores of people dead.
Police were criticised for failing to stop the violence which led to a crush in a narrow exit at the stadium in Port Said, north of the capital, Cairo. Police were criticised for failing to stop the violence on Wednesday night which led to a crush in a narrow exit at the stadium in Port Said, north of the capital, Cairo.
A network of hardened football fans known as Ultras vowed to exact revenge, accusing the police of intentionally letting rival fans attack them because they have been at the forefront of pro-democracry protests over the past year, first against former leader Hosni Mubarak and now the military. A network of football fans known as Ultras vowed to exact revenge, accusing the police of intentionally letting rival fans attack them because they have been at the forefront of pro-democracry protests over the past year, first against Hosni Mubarak and now the military.
Thousands of protesters converged on Cairo's Tahrir Square – the epicentre of the uprising that ousted Mubarak last year – carrying the red flag of the city's Al-Ahly football club and the national banner. They then marched to the nearby interior ministry to protest against the police inaction and call for retribution for the 74 people who died in the world's worst soccer violence in 15 years. Thousands of protesters converged on Cairo's Tahrir Square – the epicentre of the uprising that ousted the Egyptian president last year – carrying the red flag of the city's Al Ahly football club and the national banner. They then marched to the nearby interior ministry to protest against the police inaction and call for retribution for the 74 people who died in the world's most deadly football violence in 15 years.
The protesters raised flags of Al-Ahly and Zamalek, a rival Cairo club, , and Egyptian flags. Some held black banners reading: "Mourning." The protesters raised flags of Al Ahly and Zamalek, a rival Cairo club, , and Egyptian flags. Some held black banners reading: "Mourning."
Survivors and witnesses described people falling from the terraces and other scenes of chaos as fans from the local Al-Masry team in Port Said chased visiting Al-Ahly fans with knives, clubs and stones. Hundreds fled into the exit corridor, only to be crushed against a locked gate, their rivals attacking from behind. Survivors and witnesses described people falling from the terraces and other scenes of chaos as fans from the local Al Masry team in Port Said chased visiting Al Ahly fans with knives, clubs and stones. Hundreds fled into the exit corridor, only to be crushed against a locked gate, their rivals attacking from behind.
"The lights went off. The doors of the corridor were locked and sealed with a chain," said Sayyed Hassan, 22, who suffered a broken leg. He sat on the pavement with other mourners outside the morgue in Cairo, where many of the dead were taken. "The lights went off. The doors of the corridor were locked and sealed with a chain," said Sayyed Hassan, 22, whose leg was broken during the violence. He sat on the pavement with other mourners outside the morgue in Cairo, where many of the dead were taken.
"We weren't able to get out. I don't remember anything else," he said, adding that he had lost his 25-year-old friend in the stampede."We weren't able to get out. I don't remember anything else," he said, adding that he had lost his 25-year-old friend in the stampede.
The riot erupted when Al-Masry fans stormed the field after a rare 3-1 win against Al-Ahly, one of Egypt's most popular clubs. The riot erupted when Al Masry fans stormed the field after a rare 3-1 win against Al Ahly, one of Egypt's most popular clubs.
Ultras from Cairo's Al-Ahly and Zamalek clubs have long been bitter enemies of the police who wielded wide-ranging powers under Mubarak-era emergency law. The fans' anti-police songs, peppered with curses, usually go viral on the internet, an expression of the hatred many Egyptians feel towards the security forces. Ultras from Cairo's Al Ahly and Zamalek clubs have long been bitter enemies of the police who wielded wide-ranging powers under Mubarak-era emergency law. The fans' anti-police songs, peppered with curses, usually go viral on the internet, an expression of the hatred many Egyptians feel towards the security forces.
"They want to punish us and execute us for our participation in the revolution against suppression," Al-Ahly Ultras said in a statement. They pledged a "new war in defence of our revolution". "They want to punish us and execute us for our participation in the revolution against suppression," Al Ahly Ultras said in a statement. They pledged a "new war in defence of our revolution".
The police force, which has been the focus of Egyptian grievances leading up to the uprising, has remained a source of tension after Mubarak's removal, accused of continued heavy-handed tactics and resisting reform. They have also found themselves at times unable to manage crowds.The police force, which has been the focus of Egyptian grievances leading up to the uprising, has remained a source of tension after Mubarak's removal, accused of continued heavy-handed tactics and resisting reform. They have also found themselves at times unable to manage crowds.
The stadium riot came on the one-year anniversary of one of the most violent days of the 18-day anti-Mubarak uprising. On 2 February last year, in what became known as the Battle of the Camel, Mubarak loyalists on camels and horses attacked protesters at Tahrir Square, leading to nearly two days of battles with rocks, firebombs and slabs of concrete. Ultras were key in defending the square from the attackers. The stadium riot came on the one-year anniversary of one of the most violent days of the 18-day anti-Mubarak uprising. On 2 February last year, in what became known as the battle of the camel, Mubarak loyalists on camels and horses attacked protesters at Tahrir Square, leading to nearly two days of battles with rocks, firebombs and slabs of concrete. Ultras were key in defending the square from the attackers.
Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri, in an emergency parliamentary session, announced he had dissolved the Egyptian Football Federation's board and referred its members for questioning by prosecutors. He also announced that the governor of Port Said province and the area's police chief had resigned. The Egyptian prime minister, Kamal el-Ganzouri, in an emergency parliamentary session, announced he had dissolved the Egyptian Football Federation's board and referred its members for questioning by prosecutors. He also announced that the governor of Port Said province and the area's police chief had resigned.
Several lawmakers claimed the lax policing was intentional, aimed at stoking insecuritySeveral lawmakers claimed the lax policing was intentional, aimed at stoking insecurity
Parliament Speaker Saad el-Katatni, of the Muslim Brotherhood, accused security authorities of hesitating to act, putting "the revolution in danger". Parliament's speaker, Saad el-Katatni, of the Muslim Brotherhood, accused security authorities of hesitating to act, putting "the revolution in danger".
"This is a complete crime," said Abbas Mekhimar, head of parliament's defence committee. "This is part of the scenario of fueling chaos against Egypt.""This is a complete crime," said Abbas Mekhimar, head of parliament's defence committee. "This is part of the scenario of fueling chaos against Egypt."
More details about what happened after Wednesday's match emerged as mourners gathered outside the morgue in Cairo and the headquarters for the Al-Ahly club. More details about what happened after Wednesday's match emerged as mourners gathered outside the morgue in Cairo and the headquarters for the Al Ahly club.
Witnesses said Al-Masry supporters, armed with knives, sticks and stones, chased Al-Ahly players and fans, who ran toward the exits and up the stands to escape while lines of riot police in the stadium largely did nothing to intervene. As many Al-Ahly fans crowded into the corridor leading out of the stadium, they were trapped, with the doors locked. Witnesses said Al Masry supporters, armed with knives, sticks and stones, chased Al Ahly players and fans, who ran toward the exits and up the stands to escape while lines of riot police in the stadium largely did nothing to intervene. As many Al Ahly fans crowded into the corridor leading out of the stadium, they were trapped, with the doors locked.
At one point, the stadium lights went out, plunging it into darkness. The TV sportscaster for the match said authorities had shut them off to "calm the situation".At one point, the stadium lights went out, plunging it into darkness. The TV sportscaster for the match said authorities had shut them off to "calm the situation".
"Layers of people" were "stuck over each other because there was no other exit," Al-Ahly fan Ahmed Ghaffar tweeted on Thursday. "We were between two choices, either death coming from behind us, or the closed doors." "Layers of people" were "stuck over each other because there was no other exit," Al Ahly fan Ahmed Ghaffar tweeted on Thursday. "We were between two choices, either death coming from behind us, or the closed doors."
He said Al-Masry fans beat Al-Ahly fans who fell on the floor. He said Al Masry fans beat Al Ahly fans who fell on the floor.
Al-Masry fan, Mohammed Mosleh, who posted his account on Facebook, said he saw "thugs with weapons" on his side of the stadium where the police presence was meager, at best. Al Masry fan, Mohammed Mosleh, who posted his account on Facebook, said he saw "thugs with weapons" on his side of the stadium where the police presence was meager, at best.
"This was unbelievable," he said. "We were supposed to be celebrating, not killing people. We defeated Al-Ahly, something I saw twice only in my lifetime. All the people were happy. Nobody expected this." "This was unbelievable," he said. "We were supposed to be celebrating, not killing people. We defeated Al Ahly, something I saw twice only in my lifetime. All the people were happy. Nobody expected this."
The interior ministry said 74 people had died, including one police officer, with a further 248 injured, 14 of them police. A local health official initially said 1,000 people were injured although it was not clear how severely. Security forces arrested 47 people for involvement in the violence, the statement said. The interior ministry said 74 people had died, including one police officer, with a further 248 injured, 14 of them police. A local health official initially said 1,000 people were injured although it was not clear how severely. Security forces made 47 arrests, the statement said.
Health ministry official Hisham Sheha said the deaths were caused by stab wounds from sharp tools, brain hemorrhage and concussions. "All those carried to hospitals were already dead bodies," Sheha told state TV. A health ministry official, Hisham Sheha, said the deaths were caused by stab wounds from sharp tools, brain haemorrhage and concussions. "All those carried to hospitals were already dead bodies," Sheha told state TV.
A number of political parties called on parliament to pass a no-confidence vote against the government of el-Ganzouri, a Mubarak-era politician appointed by the much-criticised ruling military council.A number of political parties called on parliament to pass a no-confidence vote against the government of el-Ganzouri, a Mubarak-era politician appointed by the much-criticised ruling military council.
Osama Yassin, head of the sports committee in parliament, said that parliament holds the interior minister, who is in charge of police, responsible for the violence. He also demanded the removal of the prosecutor-general, Mahmoud Abdel-Meguid.Osama Yassin, head of the sports committee in parliament, said that parliament holds the interior minister, who is in charge of police, responsible for the violence. He also demanded the removal of the prosecutor-general, Mahmoud Abdel-Meguid.